Hi, my name is Piyush, and this is my blog. The other day, my roommate Vinay and I were talking on the phone and started discussing and planning a trip. Since he is from Rajasthan, India, he wasn’t interested in visiting Jaisalmer, a wonderful desert area in the western part of the country. After much searching and continuous discussion, we decided to visit Kutch, Gujarat.
Kutch is a district in the Gujarat state of India. The main city of Kutch is Bhuj. The state government organizes a festival called the Rann of Kutch, which is famous for its white sand. This festival runs from October to February.
During the call with Vinay, we discussed meeting in Ahmedabad. From there, we booked a night bus and reached Bhuj early the next morning. After the call ended, I booked tents and buses according to our budget and paid advances to the owners.
The Rann of Kutch is around 100 km from Bhuj City and can easily be traveled using an auto-rickshaw or a scooter. Various travel agents set up tents in the Rann of Kutch with all the facilities, including washrooms, air conditioning, clean water, and recreational activities. The tents are arranged in a circular manner with a small stage and chairs and tables in the center. At night, after dinner, the tent owner organizes a music program where traditional singers perform using traditional instruments, and people dance around the bonfire. This activity usually lasts from half an hour to an hour.
Vinay and I took an auto-rickshaw to the Rann of Kutch after getting off the bus at 5 am. As we traveled, there was a desert on both sides of the road. We saw the sun rising in the east and a flock of birds flying from west to east for their food above our auto. After a while, we stopped at a food dhaba. As it was cold in the morning, locals were sitting around a bonfire. We drank tea and bought some chips for our journey ahead.
When we reached the tent zone in the Rann of Kutch, we saw a huge painting of a camel wearing a beautiful necklace with people riding it. It was their specialty. After having lunch in the tent, we went to the Rann. To enter the Rann, the Border Security Force requires an identity card, a small fee, and a registration form, which are all available near the entry gate.
You need your own vehicle to go to the Rann. Since we didn’t have one, we rented an old Hero Honda Splendor motorbike from a local Pan shop. As soon as we entered the Rann, we saw the White Desert and people paragliding. It was a mesmerizing scene. Vinay took a motor paragliding ride, and we ate local corn.
In the Rann, we took a camel ride for only 50 rupees. The camel owner played an old song, and everyone enjoyed it while sitting on the cart. The white sand was amazing, offering an astonishing view. We watched the sunset, took pictures, and talked to other tourists. I tasted the sand, and it was salty. Sometimes it was uneasy to walk there. Small folk artists were singing traditional songs, and people were dancing Garba. One artist even offered me a Safa, and I clicked pictures wearing it.
As the sun started to set, the camels began to return with people. There was a big stage set for the night performance. Traditional folk dancers and singers performed in the Rann of Kutch. Tourists danced Garba in groups. Soon we returned and explored the local market set up in Kutch.
Finally, after exploring the market, we returned to the tent, ate dinner, and enjoyed a small stage and bonfire set by the tent owners. Local folk singers sang songs, and everyone enjoyed their performances.
We woke up early the next morning and left the tent to watch the sunrise. The sunrise was phenomenal, and then we left for Kalo Dungar.
